Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is buried in private, ending his tumultuous journey

  • Flowers are seen on the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    APTOPIX Russia Prigozhin

    Flowers are seen on the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Russian flag is seen above the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    Russian flag is seen above the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • In this photo taken from video, police officers stand in front of the closed area of the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    In this photo taken from video, police officers stand in front of the closed area of the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A portrait of the owner of private military company Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin is set at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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    Russia Obit Prigozhin

    A portrait of the owner of private military company Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin is set at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A woman lights a candle at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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    Russia Obit Prigozhin

    A woman lights a candle at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • People stand next to an informal street memorial with lit candles for Wagner Group's military group members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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    Russia Obit Prigozhin

    People stand next to an informal street memorial with lit candles for Wagner Group's military group members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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    Russia Prigozhin

    People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flowers are seen on the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Russian flag is seen above the grave of Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen guard the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
In this photo taken from video, police officers stand in front of the closed area of the Porokhovskoye cemetery after a memorial service for mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last week, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Spokespeople for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin say a memorial service for the mercenary boss took place behind closed doors. A terse statement on social media said Tuesday that "those who wish to bid their farewell" to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor should go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, his hometown. (AP Photo)
A portrait of the owner of private military company Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin is set at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
A woman lights a candle at an informal street memorial for Wagner Group's members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
People stand next to an informal street memorial with lit candles for Wagner Group's military group members killed in a plane crash, near the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow killing all 10 people on board. Russia's Investigative Committee said forensic and genetic testing identified all 10 bodies recovered from the crash, and the identities "conform with the manifest." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
People react by the coffin of the Wagner Group's logistics chief Valery Chekalov, killed in the plane crash, during a funeral at the Severnoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The plane crash came exactly two months after Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, leading his mercenaries to take over the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then launching a march on Moscow. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
Associated Press
Updated

A private burial was held for Yevgeny Prigozhin, ending a tumultuous journey from St. Petersburg street thug to Kremlin-financed mercenary leader, following a suspicious plane crash two months after his brief mutiny that challenged the authority of President Vladimir Putin. Russian media cited unidentified sources as saying Prigozhin was laid to rest Tuesday without any publicity, per his family's wishes. Members of the Russian National Guard were stationed along the fence at the cemetery, steering visitors away after it closed for the day.